Pru Kirby and Diane Bradwell – who both live in Bakewell – have been ‘very good friends for a very long time,’ and it was a mutual friend that inspired them to get involved in volunteering to support their local hospice charity.
Pru, left, and Diane
Pru, who originally hails from Dorset, has lived in the Derbyshire Dales for more than 40 years, and Diane, known as Di to many, came from Bedfordshire to Bakewell around five decades ago.
The pair, who both had long and happy careers in education, Pru as a learning support assistant and Di as a special education primary school teacher, got involved with volunteering for Helen’s Trust in 2016, and they’ve continued to support the charity since it partnered with Blythe House back in 2020.
Pru explained: ‘We got involved after a mutual friend’s husband sadly died and she wanted to do some fundraising for Helen’s Trust in his memory. We got involved in helping with fundraising, including hosting stalls and helping out at events.
‘As well as fundraising events, I now support the hospice’s charity shop on Matlock Street in Bakewell every Monday morning. I volunteer alongside Ruth [Brown, trustee of the charity and former Hospice at Home manager], and she is great fun.
‘We undertake tasks including sorting and steaming donations, chatting to customers, banking, cleaning and displaying items for sale. It is really nice to do something for the community, and meet our regular customers who come in often. We also greet a lot of tourists and it is nice to find out where they’re visiting from.
‘I feel I am making a difference and giving something back to my community. I’ve never had support from the charity personally, but I see it as supporting a local charity and as a social opportunity too; meeting new people and getting to know each other. There is a good group of us.’
Pru and Di continue to support the hospice at fundraising events, working alongside Lauri Benning, our community fundraiser for the Derbyshire Dales. They help out at stalls including at Bakewell and Chatsworth Christmas Markets, and our hugely popular Chatsworth 10k event every September.
Di said: ‘I feel that volunteering has just always been a part of me, as my whole family has always given their time to support charities that mean something to them – including my Mum, Dad, brother and sister. My Mum received an MBE for her voluntary services to girl guiding and supporting Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle of Wight.
‘The role of fundraising volunteer is very rewarding. You’re not just giving your time, as you’re getting something back; helping the hospice to raise the funds it needs to continue. It’s amazing to see how it has grown and developed in the time that we have been involved, including its partnership with Blythe House, and all of the local patients it supports.’
Find out more about volunteering your time to support Blythe House and Helen’s Trust.
